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“Because you can't buy happiness... but you can buy whisky and that's pretty much the same thing”

Read stories about Highland Park of A Wardrobe of Whisky blog.

You can read here older articles posted in A Wardrobe of Whisky since 2009.
The articles are sorted by publication date. You can either browse here, check the featured articles section or use the search bar on the top of this page.

Highland Park The Warriors Single Malt Whiskies

By Miguel in Tasting , Highland Park

Oh My God! I did this incredible Highland Park Tasting ten days ago and I still haven’t find time to write this article… I have no excuses, well, no, in fact, I really have, a friend of mine told me about Homeland and I have been watching First and Second seasons since then. But no more excuses, you really need to know about these whiskies that unfortunately are Duty-free/Travel retail exclusives.

I am not a huge fan of Highland Park because they don’t send me samples because I can get as good whiskies as Highland Park for less money. A few years ago someone once told me that there are two kind of Highland Park whiskies: overwatered and overpriced. I though it was a joke and although there are fantastic whiskies ( and I mean really crazy good whiskies ) on this tasting all of them goes to one or the other category. That’s said I have to say that I love the 25yo and the 30yo. Outstanding malts!.

Oouch! If I keep writing like this I won’t be able to watch another chapter of Homeland before the day ends, so let me show you what we tasted on the #HPWarriorTT.

new--vikings-d-fantasy-vikings-warriors-ship-sea-storm-adventure-travel-picture-image

Highland Park has released a range of whisky called The Warriors to pay homage to famous Orkney viking chiefs and so named the range of six bottles after them. So let’s review the whiskies…

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Highland Park Loki Review

By Miguel in Tasting , Featured , Highland Park

Well, here it is!
I have been wanting to taste this Highland Park Loki dram since I bought the sample a few weeks ago. I didn’t buy Highland Park Thor because I thought it was a clear rip-off and after tasting it I clearly reaffirmed on my opinion.

IMG_8288

But with this Loki… something happened. Just forget about the horrible amount of money that Highland Park spent on promoting the stuff ( save a bit and send me a sample next time! ), just forget about all the buzzing around the whisky PR. The thing that turned me into buying one of the most mis-priced whiskies I have had lately was Serge Valentin‘s review at Whiskyfun. I really trust Serge judgement and although we don’t have exactly the same tastes I know he enjoys good whiskies and so do I.

So the problem was there, the whisky was also clearly another rip-off but after a 92p review by Serge it would be sold out before I could be able to taste it, so I ate my own words and ordered a bottle ( I am a collector nor an investor ) and decided to give it a try.

So much bullshit has been written about this whisky that I wasn’t even sure what to expect: enigmatic, elusive, chameleonic, … So there I went. The whisky…

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Highland Park Loki 15 years old Valhalla Collection

By Miguel in News , Highland Park

Well, after reading Serge tasting note about Highland Park Loki, I have decided to eat my own words and buy a bottle of it. I usually have enjoyed the drams that Serge has scored over 90 and although I still think Loki is extremely overpriced, maybe £60 would have been a good price, I know that after Serge scoring it will be sold out in a matter of days…


Let’s wait for it and see if I have done a good buying decision.
You can read the Press Release note after the break.

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TWE Whisky Show 2012: What I couldn't taste [Part 4]

By Miguel in Laphroaig , Cooley , Chivas , Johnnie Walker , The Macallan , Dewar , Penderyn , Bunnahabhain , Compass Box , Monkey Shoulder , Glenfiddich , The Balvenie , Kilchoman , Highland Park , Bowmore , Yoichi , Nikka , Suntory , Balblair , Redbreast , Glenfarclas , Connemara , Ichiro , Rosebank , Benriach , Glendronach , Old Pulteney , Dalmore , Glen Garioch , Big Peat , Glenglassaugh , Glenrothes , Maker's Mark , Hibiki , Four Roses , Glencadam , Wemyss , Douglas Laing

This post continue from TWE Whisky Show [Part 3]

The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show 2012 took place at October 6th and 7th and although it has been a great experience it has been a short one. With over 450 whiskies to taste and just barely six hours ahead it was impossible to taste them all.

What I couldn’t taste

This post is just a set of photos of what I couldn’t taste. Sorry, people… I can write about this because I get sad… so great stuff that I had to skip… *sniff*

I visited Compass Box stand for saying hi to Chris and I take a few photos with the people on the show.

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Enlighted by Highland Park 30 years old whisky

By Miguel in Tasting , Highland Park

“Epic whisky! The sweetest raisins that I have ever had. The best Highland Park whisky I have tried”

93
Highland Park 30 year
A stunning Highland Park 30 years old bottled at high strength, over 48% abv.

This single malt whisky from this Orkney distillery has a good amount of sherry casks used on it. It portraits also the awesome heather theme present on most Highland Park scotches.

Definitively a whisky to drink if you can afford it. If that's not the situation, you would do well checking the 25 years old

This dram has a tawny-like color.

Nose (94): more than average. honey, raisins, floral, spices, cinnamon. Lovely! Sweet raisins.

Palate (93): smooth, powerful. honey, leather, nuts, floral, spices, wood, cocoa. Sherry epitome!

Finish (93): longer than average. honey, nuts, floral.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Highland Park 30 year with 93 points over 100.

Tasting Highland Park 25 years old scotch whisky

By Miguel in Tasting , Highland Park

“Marvelous! Incrediblely good Highland Park. A sherry marvel if you ask me”

93
Highland Park 25 year
Highland Park 25yo is a terrifically complex, rich, woody, sherried dram.

Distilled at the remote island of Orkney on the north of Scotland in the Highland Park distillery. One of the last that still does in-site malting.

It seems as if this release will be the last at cask strength as the company is running low on stocks, so don't tarry too long if you want one of these great single malt whiskies.

This dram has a cooper-like color.

Nose (93): more than average. honey, wood, fruits, plums, smoke, floral, spices, pepper, a little cinnamon.

Palate (92): smooth, powerful. honey, wood, spices, pepper, leather, nuts, cocoa. Impressive sherry character.

Finish (93): longer than average. honey, nuts, spices.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Highland Park 25 year with 93 points over 100.

Impressive Highland Park 18 years old whisky

By Miguel in Tasting , Highland Park

“First class whisky with a lovely integration of heather and smoke. Thumbs up for this Highland Park whisky.”

91
Highland Park 18 year
One of our all-time favorites, this has to be one of the most consistently excellent malt whiskies of the last ten years.

Showered with awards and praise from all quarters, it was named as 'Best Spirit in the World' by F. Paul Pacult of the Spirit Journal in 2005.

If you enjoyed this Highland Park single malt, you should try the 25 years old that it is a awesome sherry Orkney monster.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (90): more than average. honey, floral, heather, wood, spices, cinnamon.

Palate (91): smooth, powerful. honey, wood, spices, floral, citrus, cocoa.

Finish (91): longer than average. honey, wood, spices, vanilla, pepper.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Highland Park 18 year with 91 points over 100.

Buy this bottle at

Save money when you buy Single Malt Whisky online. Check for the best prices from best online shops below:



Review of Highland Park 12 years old Single Malt

By Miguel in Tasting , Highland Park

“More smoky than peaty but a very nice Highland Park.”

89
Highland Park 12 year
The first proprietary bottling of Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky was as a 12 year old in 1979.

It remains the core expression of the Highland Park range and is a smooth, balanced single malt, with a rich full flavour and a gentle smokey finish.

In fact this is the smokier bottling of all the range. If you like this Highland Park 12 years old, you should try the 18 years old.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (89): more than average. peat, honey, heather, citrus, malt, spices.

Palate (90): smooth, oily. peat, honey, floral, spices, vanilla, wood, cocoa.

Finish (89): longer than average. peat, wood, honey.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Highland Park 12 year with 89 points over 100.

Buy this bottle at

Save money when you buy Single Malt Whisky online. Check for the best prices from best online shops below:



Tasting Highland Park 1998

By Miguel in Tasting , Highland Park

“Very floral Highland Park whisky”

88
Highland Park 1998 1l
Released in April 2010, this litre bottle vintage edition of Highland Park was distilled in 1998, the year of the distillery's bicentenary and was originally only available in travel retail.

This Highland Park single malt is one of the members of the vintage selection that this Orkney distillery has released lately.

Fruity, with a honeyed sweetness after 12 years maturation in American oak.

It is a real pity it wasn't bottled at cask strength.

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (90): more than average. heather, honey, toffee, malt, citrus. Lots of lovely floral sweet aroma

Palate (88): smooth. heather, wood, honey, citrus, spices, pepper, dark chocolate.

Finish (87): longer than average. floral, spices, vanilla.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Highland Park 1998 1l with 88 points over 100.